Dating device



May 28, 1935.

W. J. PEARSON DATING DEVICE File@ 0013. 23, 1951 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 vAT TORMEY M33' 28, 1935- v w.. J. PEARsoN 2,003,219

' DATING DlizvICF:A

Fild Oot. 23, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orricE 4 Claims.

This invention relates `to improvements in dating fdevices designed to be used in conjunction with the numeral printer in a parce1 post machine, such as is disclosed in my co-pending op- ,plication Serial No. 367,106, filed 'by me May 29, .1929, for Parcel postweighing and stamp lprinting machine, which is designed to weigh parcel post packages and lto 4print parcel post stamps of the prepaid meteredtype.

lEhe parcel post' weighing and stamp printing machine disclosed in said applicationis designed for printing purposes, more particularly the printing of metered parce1 post stamps, wherein it `may be required to print a stamp providing the name of the place of original mailing, the date, the zone number to which thev package is addressed, the Weight of the package in pounds, `the monetary value ofthe stamp derived lfrom the weight -and the zone, a serial number, and such other words, phrases, figures, decorations, and designations as it may be desired to print. This mechanism is used in conjunction with a scale, meters, and a paper supply, and may be motor driven and used `for any printing.

This machine is particularly adapted for the printing of parce1 post stamps upon a paper strip which -is delivered from a machine, cut to the proper vstamp length and, being -gummed on ythe reverse side, may be moistened at the delivery point -o'f the machine, and in this vcondition attached to the package to be mailed. There may rbe printed a duplicate stamp that may be wound Aupon a spindle within the machine, or delivered in `cut lengths with the stamp.

vThis machine also provides-a novel method of setting up within the machine the mechanical equivalent of Aa set of numbers -put into the -machine by an operator by actuation vof the keys of the keyboard; when the required numbers have been set up, or the required number of keys operated on the keyboard, by means of a control key and the connected mctordrive, the 'machine yoperates to print a stamp, and at the completion of the printing operation, vthe machine is `cleared and prepared vfor the next operation.

The machine includes a total registering 'meter and a reset meter, a meter actuating mechanism which is set up by lthe keyboardwith `mechanical vequivalents lof 'the numbers punched in Aby the keys ofthe keyboard and 'a numeral printing mechanism which is also operated Vfrom the keyboard to-'set up the numbers punched in on the keys. Y

My invention provides a novel means-for printing lthe date upon a ,parcel post stamp X'or the like; more particularly the -invention Vrelates to a removable-daterdevice comprising a removable member containing separate type which-may be removed land changed -a's desired.

Ancbject yof my invention Iis -to provide a dater,

wherein the ftype may -be changed Afrom day to day, as required to keep the date to be printed current with the'day, lmonth and-year, and which is :readily accessible, removable and replaceable within thermachine.

An object of myinventionisto provide aldater device which, when removed from vthe machine, will 'cause the supply of current to the vmotor to be cut on, and, when improperly replaced in the machine, will continue to break the current circuitand only upon'proper adjustment vwithin the receiving area-'and upon alignment with the other printing members vof the printer will the circuit be reconnected andthe machine made operable.

yanother object of` my invention is to provide a dating device with type lfaces aligned with the other printing 'faces adjoining it and which Imay be inked by the same 4inking device by which the other printing faces are inked.

Another'ob-ject of my invention is to provide a dating device wherein there are removable type of similar size yand character, Ybut which are provided with angular portions Von their outer surfaces, whereby tylgie'may be placed Vin 'the ree ceiving aperture -of the dater only in an established relation and whereby it would 'be impossible `'to make an incorrect set-'up 'of the vdater type, -for example, lplacing the' year ltype where the month type vshould be. r

Various other Aobjects vand advantages will vbe more `fully 'apparent from the following descrip- :tion of lthe accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosure, and which'illustrate aI preferred form of embodiment off 'the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. r1 is an elevation of the numeral printer containing Athe dating device, the ribbon carrier, th'ekeyboard unit land the mois'tener.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the printer unit containing the moistener, taken from the left ofV the illustration of the printer disclosed in Fig. 1 and showing 'the electric switch and motor (diagrammatically), butom-ittingthe showing of the ribbon rewind.

Fig. v3 is a sectional elevational 'View of the printer unit shown inlig. 1 taken opposite to Fig. 2 and showing insection'the dater device and the type contained therein in non-printing position.

Fig. 4 lis aview of a portion of the -printer in section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the printer in printing position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the dating device partly in section and somewhat enlarged, showing the relative positions of the switch, positioning pin and the dater type, and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in section of the front section of the printer including the dating device and the platen in non-printing position, taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig."1 is a detail view of the printer drive cam, taken in a directionopposite to that of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail elevational view from the opposite side of the machine from Fig. 2, showing the connections from the cam shaft for" oper ating the printing hammer andthe power vdrive shaft which is driven by the motor of the machine.

The numeral printer A comprises the dater device B,.the ribbon rewind C, the keyboard D, the moistener E, and the duplicate stamp spindle F, which are parts of a parcel post machine wherein the dating device is used.

The dater proper comprises a removable block I provided with a knurled handle I I and having a recess I2 designed to receive the dating type I3, I4 and I5; The wallrof the recess I2 is provided with angular surfaces, an angle offset on one side comprising an offset IB which constitutes a key adapted to be contacted by a correspondingy keyway I1 in the type blocks I3, a second off-set I8 constituting a key which is ttedby a keyway I9 in the type blocks I4, and a third off-set 20 constituting a key which is fitted with a corresponding keyway 2I inthe type blocks I5, thus providing means to allow only the type designed to fit in each portion of the recess I2 to enter. For retaining the type in vertical position when placed in the dater block I0 I have provided an ofi-set or shoulder 22in the dater block I0 and a corresponding shoulder 23 in each of the type blocks I3, I4 and I5. Thus, as the type is assembled into the dater block, it is set down against the shoulder 22, bringing it into alignment with the other printing faces of the numeral printer.

The dater block I0 is removably mounted in a carriage 24, which is an integral part of the numeral printer and operates with a reciprocal vertical movement in guides 25 supported by a printer frame 26. y

The printer A comprises'type wheels 28 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 21 (comprising the main part of the numeral printer) and an automatic serial numbering printer 29, also assembled on the shaft 21; the shaft 21 is secured at one end in the dater carriage 24 and has its other end secured in a member 30 slidable vertically with a reciprocal movement on guides (not shown) similar to the guides 25; thus' there is provided a means for printing a stamp wherein the date type are in alignment with the other type faces and are operated simultaneously with them.

For the purpose of inking the several type faces in the numeral printer A, I have provided an ink reservoir SI with a filler tube 32, the reservoir 3| having an absorbent surface comprising the fabric 33; for distributing the ink from the reservoir 3| to the various type facesI have provided-a felt roller 34 mounted in a carriage 35 which travels in the track 36 with a lateral movement to and from the reservoir 3l to the type faces. In Fig. 3 the type I3, I4 and I5 are shown in non-printing position, this being the position in which, they are inked preparatory to a printing operation by the roller 34; the roller 34 is operated from a. source of power and by means not shown.

To operate the type members of the printer A to print a stamp` and to give to the type members a hammer-like movement which is required by this particular form of construction of parcel post machine, I have provided a spring hammer 31 mounted on rocking arms 38 pivoted on rock shaft 39 driven by a motor (not shown) and tensioned by a set of springs 4G; this hammer, in its operation is raised and then tripped by a cam 61 on shaft 6G, driven by a motor R the end 10 of a lever 1I on shaft 39 engaging the cam face 68 for this purpose; the two positions or" the hammer and the dater device are best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, Fig. 3 showing'the mechanism in non-printing position, and Fig. 4 showing it in printing position.

The shaft 66 is gear-connected by gears 65a and 64a (Fig. 8) with shaft |63 which in turn is connected by bevel gearing 63a. with power drive shaft |62 which is driven through suitable connections, as for example, belt S from the motor R, located in a different part of the machine, but illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

For locating the dater block properly in the carriage 24 so that the type members I3, I4 and I5 willbe in proper alignment with the other printing surfaces, I have provided a locating p'm 4I which enters a dwell 42 in the dater block I0 .when properly located; an extension 43 of pin 4I has a pin 44 entering a slotted opening 45 in the switch lever 46, which is pivotally mounted at 41 to the side of the casing 26. A switch-operating member 48 on one end of lever 4S is provided for the purpose of opening and closing the electric circuit to a motor, (not shown) which comprises the power drive means for rock shaft 39 of the printer A and for the other elements of the parcel post machine; the switch comprises two contacting members 49 and 5D; the other end of the switch lever 46 is provided with a knurled handle I formanual operation to remove the locating pin 4I from the dwell 42 and allow the dater block IU to be removed from the carriage 24 for the purpose of changing the type. An additional function of the locating pin 4I is to lock the dater block I0 in position once it has entered the dwell 42. The hammer 31 contacting directly against the upper plate 65 of the carriage y24, and the plate contacting the upper surfaces of the type I 3, I4, and I5, the construction causes proper horizontal alignment of the dater type with the type faces of the numeral wheels mounted within the printer. The dater block I9, which is slidably `mounted in the carriage 24, is supported at the sides by the contacting surfaces of the carriage 24 and at the bottom by extended portions of the carriage 24 comprising the tracks 52.

Fig. 5 shows three positions of the switch arm 46. In the normal position, shown in solid lines, the dater block I0 is properly located within the carriage 2.4 and the locating pin 4I is properly seated in the dwell 42; the broken lines 53 illustrate the position to which the parts are moved by manual operation for the purpose of removing the dater block IG; the broken lines 54 illustrate the posi- `tion of the pin 4I and the arm 46 when the dater block I0 has been removed. Movement of arm 46 in either direction operates through the switchoperating member 48, to move one or the other of the contact members 49 or 50, according to the Vdirection of the movement, thus breaking the motor circuit and preventing operation of the printer for printing purposes either when the dater block IU is removed or when it is in an incorrect position in the carriage 24.

The parcel post machine herein referred to is designed to use a paper tape for the purpose of printing parcel post stamps and a second paper tape for receiving a duplicate copy print of each stamp as printed in the machine; the duplicate paper tape 55 (Fig. l) is shown being wound upon the spindle F. The paper tape 56 used for printing a stamp is illustrated by broken lines which indicate the position assumed by a stamp after it has been printed and forwarded into the moistener E and severed from the balance of the paper tape by the knife 51. The two paper tapes pass through a guide plate 58, wherein they are separated, the inked ribbon 59 being allowed to travel between the two tapes for the purpose of making a print on the duplicate tape at the time that the postage stamp is printed. For the purpose of providing a surface against which the printer will operate, and to properly support the two paper tapes for printing purposes, I have provided a platen Si! of semi-resilient material mounted in a support in the form of an anvil 6I which is assembled as a part of the ribbon device C. The ribbon 59 is secured to two spindles 62 and 83, upon which it is wound alternately by the winding mechanism 64, which incorporates reversing elements operated by power means (not shown).

The operation of setting the type in the dater block I0 is accomplished by removing the pin II from the dwell 42 by means of the handle 5I on arm 48 (Fig. l) to release the dater block I2, and removing the block from the carriage 24 by means of the handle I I. By merely turning the block I0 over the type can be dropped out freely, whereupon the proper date blocks may be selected and placed in the dater block IB; the dater, as designed in this machine, has the month, day and year, each upon separate type blocks; and as shown in Fig. 5 the type block I5 would preferably carry vthe month, the type block I4 the day of the month, and the type block I3 the year; to assist the operator in re-setting the type the recited keyways Il, I9, and 2| are provided in each type block for the purpose of making the proper selection of type easier and quicker, and for preventing the otherwise possible wrong assembly of the type.

When the type is re-set the dater block I is ready to be replaced in the carriage 25 the operator then, by means of the handle 5i, removes the locating pin 4I from the path of the dater block Ill, slides the dater block IB into the carriage 24 and releases the spring tensioned handle 5I, thus allowing the locating pin 4I to find and enter the dwell 42 upon the proper positioning of the dater block I0 within the carriage 24; the proper seating of pin 4I permits the switch contacts 49 and 50 to be closed, placing the motor circuit through wires 98, 99 in condition for the next printing operation.

The structure of the dater device itself, the removing and replacing means, the locking and releasing means, the connected switch, and the other parts disclosed, may be Varied in form without departure from my invention, as Vhereinafter ments to produce a printing operation, and an electrical control preventing operation of the said last means until said printing elements are aligned said control comprising an electrical switch, a switch actuating member, a recessV in said movable element, and a pin connected to said member and seated in the recess in said movable element when said elements are aligned.

2. In a printing device for parcel post meter machines and the like, a pair of independent printing elements, one of said printing elements being movable relative to the other printing element, an electrical switch means for actuating both said printing elements to produce printing engagement upon work, electrical connections between said switch and last named means and means for actuating said switch to prevent the operation of the device when the movable printing element is not aligned with the other element, said means comprising a recess in said movable element, a spring-pressed pin seated in said recess when said movable element is aligned, and an arm connected to said pin for actuating said switch.

3. In a printing device, a plurality of independent printing elements, a support for said ele-l ments, one of said elements having a recess and being removable from said support, a motor for actuating said printing elements, an electrical switch controlling said motor, a control member for actuating said switch for preventing actuation of the printing elements by said motor when said movable element is removed from said support or is not aligned with the other printing elements, a pin carried by said control member and adapted to seat in said recess when the movable element is on said support and aligned with the other printing elements.

4. In a printing device, a supporting frame, a shaft supported in said frame, means for actuating said shaft, a switch controlling said shaft actuating means, printing wheels on said shaft, a printing element removably positioned in said frame and normally in alignment with said printing wheels, said printing element having a recess in its surface and said frame having an opening registering with said recess when said printing element is positioned in said frame in alignment with said printing wheels, a control arm pivotally mounted on said frame for actuating said switch, said control arm having a pin thereon projecting through said opening into said recess when said printing element is properly positioned in said frame and adapted to prevent the operation of the device when said printing element is removed from said frame oris not in alignment with said printing wheels.

WILLIAM J. PEARSON. 

